Window-cleaning apparatus



Aug. 1, 1950 E. L. FOUSE wmnow CLEANING APPARATUS 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 28, 1946 FIG. -I

INVENTOR'. EDWIN L.FOUSE 4w MM ATTORNEYS NOE 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 E. L. FOUSE WINDOW CLEANING APPARATUS vNNmN. mnb p ME.

INVENTOR- L EDWIN L. FOUSE BY {1w MM),

ATTORNEYS a mm 8 +9 ow/mwmw NE 7 J Filed Oct. 28, 1946 Aug. 1, 1950 Aug. 1, 1950 E. Fo usE WINDOW CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 28, 1946 '7'Sh'eet's-Sheet 5 MOI Ema mm? INVENTOR EDWIN L. FOLJSE IllLl ATTORNEYS.

Au .11, 1950 E. 1.. FOUSE wmnow CLEANING APPARATUS 7 sheets-sheet 4 Filed 001;. 28, 1946 FIG. l6

FIG. l5

INVENTOR;

ATTORNEYS Aug. 1, 1950 E. 1.. FOUSE WINDOW CLEANING APPARATUS 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed 001;. 28, 1946 INVENTOR; EDWIN L. FOUSE Mvulw ATTORNEYS.

mow NQH moi m Ill lllllllllllJllln 1, 1950 E. FOUSE 2,517,474

WINDOW CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 28, 1946 7 Sheets-Sheet s FIG. 7 8 FIG.6

FIG. 8

F \NVENTOR:

EDWIN I F OUSE ATTORNEYS.

Aug. 1, 1950 E. L. FOUSE 2,517,474

WINDOW CLEANINGAPPARATUS Filed Oct. 28, 1946 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 149 153 154 M 154 I 153 1 FIG. l3

. 1 i 5 F '2 =5 155 '1 J H 15 i #1 if? 5: 5 ;i' g? INVENTOR:

151 15a EDWIN L. FOUSE BY FIG. I2 M ATTORNEYS.

patented Aug. 1, 1950 NIT ED S itA-T F FEE 2517,47 1 W'INDGW-CILEANINGKBPARATUS Edwin L,..Eo.u se, Cleveland; Ohio n mtiomoetoeer 28, 194B; swarm; 7116, 223

ise iiss. (01. 15-450 L This invention relates to window-cleaningapparatus. andl has for its. general object to produce: an apparatus. for' this: purpose? which will enable: the exteriorsurtaces. of the panes of glass of? the'embediment'of my invention as illustrated in the: drawingsshereof; wherein Fig. 1. represents a perspective View of. my window-cleaning aprparatus as-the:same appears when installed upon a. window. sill structure, a portion of the inner member of. said structurebeing indicated'in: dot.- and -dash-lines; and: the outer member of said structure being.- omitted; Fig. 2 a: sectional: side elevational view of'the upper-'pertion of the. afores said: apparatus showing the manner. in. which the window-cleaning supporting. member is, agijustably supp e t in e ou inst F 3 a view similar? to Fig-z 2 and showing thelower po tioniof the: apparatus: and illustrating more. particula y' h m nn r i w h the pa t si detehhably:- and adjustably secured: to a Window structure; Figs 4- anenlarged; sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of: Fig. 1 lookingainthe direction ot the: arrows; Fig. 5 an enlargedsectiona-l v w aken n h line -5 Fis=- s ce in s ins: sh n el a onifor c earnessof; illustration; Fig.- 6 an. enlarged detail in section-taken on the line 6--6;- of Fig=. 2,. looking in; the direct-ion qf; the-1 arrows; Fig. 7 a detail in eievationtakenpnthe line 1-4 of Fig 6, looking the direction oi the-arrows; Fig. 8 adetail in section taken-on the line (l-.8 of Fig; 7 looking in thedirection oi the arrews; Fig. 9 a sectional View taken onthe line. 9.-9 oi Fig 3,.1ooking: in the directiomof the arrows;v Fig. 10 a detail. in

'- elevation taken on the line e 0,01- Fig. 2. look;-

ing in; the direction of the arrows; Fig. 11.- an

enlarged sectional view taken. on thEfliQB Iii-4:!

of Fig, 2, looking: in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 12 an enlar ed. detail in section taken on the line 12-812 of Fig. 3 ,looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 113a detail ofthebelt showin the manner in which. the-endsthereofi are; connectedt. Fig; le an enlarged detail in section talgen on the linei Hie-.44; of Fig. 2, lookingrin the. direction ofrthearrcwsaFiga i5natdetail insectionwith 2 I par-ts broken away, illustrating a. modificat-icnof the construction by. which. thesupporting arm for the window cleaning: element can be raised a-ncl'iowered: Fig: 16; a: detail. in: section taken on the line lgfiP-l ii of Figiv 1'5 and: lbOklIlg'in l'lhe direction of the arrows;; Fig.1?- at-view in. side: elevation of a different type of Window cleaning. ele- -ment-t'hani thatrsh'ownin Figs. 1: and 2; and Fig.

1'8an elevational. Vie W-= of one end of the supporting' arm: for the' window cleaning elements The apparatus as: shown and described herein comprises generallya: base frame which consti- ,tutes;- the mainsupport for the various parts of my apparatus-andfor therhousingfor the parts forming airbase frame. It denotes a base plate whiehJssecuredl te-the bottemnanges of these an le m m e s. t h rizontal flanges formin a; suppertfpr the flanges 13. on the bottom of.- a.

housing, the sides. whereofare: indicated generally. at la, l4 denotes aplate 'whichis located within. the. lewer portion. of the housing and! is supportedby the. base plate by means. of a rod 15 threadedinto-a.s1eeve l4l -secured to and depending fromthe bottemof the saidiplate, with its lower end: extending through a bushing li carried by the base plate H and. being previded= therebelow. with. an operating handwheel Hi Ar e 1 is ensag'ed wit the rod 1.5 after the. rodii's. insertedthroughbushing" H a and suppolj-ts the. rod. [If on. the bushing H The purpose of the reel lh is-t'o impart a verticaladjustmerit. to the plate lA'with reference. to the plate H a d np de em 'int i er e M a alielism with: the. plate l lduring. such. adjustment the-endef the-former plate whichis opposi e that te ich the d it is! e nn cte i i d nsl s rmised ymod M w c ex ne thrcug-h. a bushingl-B: provided: therefor in the pl t 3: wi its pper e d: c nne ted= to th lower side: of: the-plate: M and arcoil: spring H9 3 surrounding the said rod and interposed between the said plates.

20, denote the flanges of a pair of vertically extending angle members and 2!, 2M the flanges of a corresponding pair of vertically extending angle members, the tops of the said angle members being connected. by a plate 22 extending across the housing l2 and having slots 23 therethrough adjacent to the flanges 20 and 2i of the angle members. The lower ends of these angle members extend through and are secured, as by welding, to the plate I4. The bottoms of the angle members are connected by a plate 24 which has slots 25 therethrough, directly beneath and symmetrically arranged with respect to the slots 23 in the plate 22. 26 denotes substantially semi-circular plates which are secured to and extend upwardly from the plate 22 and to and between which are journaled lower rollers 2'! and an intermediate upper roller 28. Each of these plates has secured thereto a tube 29, the tubes receiving therewithin the legs 30 of a yoke 30 which may be conveniently welded to the top member [2 of the housing l2. Similar plates -3l are secured to the bottom of the plate 24 and or similar suitable flexible material and comprises a section 34 which is constructed in the usual manner from said rubber, leather or webbing and which is connected (preferably integrally in the manner to be described) with the section 35, which is provided with cross pins 36 constituting in effect ratchet teeth. The section is conveniently made by eliminating the central portion. of the original solid belting material, leaving sides 35 which serve as a mounting for the ends of the pins 36. The ends of the continuous strip from which the belt is-made may be connected in any approved manner, as by means of alternating hinged lugs and recesses 34*, 34 and a hinge pintle 34 (see Fig. 13)

The ends of the vertical plates 26 and 3| project beyond the looped ends of the belt which pass around the rollers 21, 28 and 32, 33 and are preferably semi-circular in outline to conform to the 'shape of the ends of said loops. The width of the belt is such that the sides are in proximity to and maintained against displacement by the flanges 20 and 2| of the vertical angle members. 3'! denotes a transverse guide the ends of which extend through Vertical slots 38 in opposit sides -l2 of the housing [2, the slots being provided with inwardly projecting guide members formed by inwardly extending flanges 39a of angle members the other flanges 39 of which are secured to the sides of the casing on opposite edges of the slots therein (see Figs, 1, 2, 4 and 11). This transverse guide is shown as rectangular in section and is secured to the solid section 34 of the belt as by means of a box section member 40 having one of the walls thereof secured by screws 4! to the adjacent wall of the transverse guide 31, the said box section member being mounted within the flanges 2| and the inturned ends 2i of the angle members 2|, 2 I (see Figs. 2 and 14).

42 denotes the flanges of a backing channel member which is interposed between the belt section 34 and the base of the box member and which flanges aresecured to the transverse guide 31, as

by means of screws 42 By this construction, the

belt section 34 is clamped between the web 42 and the outer web of the box section member 40.

The belt is clamped to the box section 40 by a pin P, preferably square in section (see Figs. 2 and 11), the outer end of which pin is slidably mounted in vertical angular guides P secured to a wall of the housing, the body of the pin extending through and secured, as by welding, to a cover plate P having guide rails P engaging the edges of the flanges 2i thence through the outer web of the box section member 49, the belt section 34, the web 42 of the backed channel member and being provided with a reduced threaded end which projects through the inner web of the member 40 where it is provided with a sleeve P threaded thereonto and having a thumb nut P This assembly is movable, together with the transverse guide 31, by means of arms P connected at their upper ends to said guide and at their lower ends to the rear of the box section member 40 (see Fig. 2).

44 denotes the bar which supports the window cleaning implement and which is slidably mounted within the transverse guide 31. This bar is conveniently made from a channel comprising a web and flanges 45 having their ends inturned, as shown at 46, to provide a space therebetween. 4? denotes a rack the ends of which are secured to opposite ends of the bottom flange 45 of the channel, the rack being spaced from said flange 45 by means of suitable spacers 48 secured to said flange by screws 49see Fig. 18.

For the purpose of moving the bar 44 within its transverse guide 31, I have provided a shaft 50 j ournaled in a sleeve 51 secured to the said guide by means of a flange 52 welded to the latter. This shaft extends through a filler plate 4i) supported between the inturned flange ends 46 and is provided with a pinion 53 meshing with the rack 41. Since the bar 44 is made of comparatively light stock, it is deemed advisable to provide suitable reinforcement for the same for the zone within which it is operated upon by the pinion, For this purpose, an outer short channel member 54 is mounted within the channeled bar 44 and a short channel member 55 is mounted within the latter channel member, the channel members 54 and 55 being shown as welded together and connected to the filler plate 46*. The outer end of the shaft 50 is centered and supported by means of a screw 56 mounted in the web of the channel member 55 and threaded into the outer end of said shaft. The shaft 58 has a hand wheel 5|] secured thereto, as by means of the hollow hub 50 and a screw bolt 5'! extending through the outer end of the shaft 59 and the said hub. The

hub is shown as formed at one end into a pinion 58, located beneath a blade Bil carried by a slide 59 which is mounted for vertical movement within a guide 6| provided therefor between the flanges of the angle members 62 which project inwardly from the sides of the vertical slot 63 in the appropriate side of the housing through which the shaft 55 extends, The guide is supported b a bolt SI extending through a flange thereof and a backing plate 6| engaging the flangesof the angle members 62; The slide 59 is provided with a threaded bore for the reception of a threaded stud 64 which extends through the cover plate (5| for the guide M, the stud projecting from a hub 65 operated by a hand wheel 55 and which hub is adapted, by operating the hand Wheel, tohold the slide in any position to which it may be adjusted along its guideway. By lowering the slide, the blade 60 maybe made to enter between any of the teeth means ofa bearing member I23 secured to the -horizontaFflang'e-of an angle bracket I24 secu'red fiange-witha beveled pinion I25 which. meshes with a beveled pinion I21 journaled on the bottom of the bearing member I23 and connected to a hand wheel I28having an operating handle of the openings I41 which are remote from the flanges of the arm into clamping engagement with the bar and to grip the bar between the walls -an'd the-ends of said flanges. This manner of mounting the bracket I45 on the bar III permits of an adjustment ofthe bracket and of the rollers II- and I55 longitudinally with respect to said bar. v

With the. parts constructed and arranged as I29-and by means of which the shaft I20 and the, thus far described, the operation will be generally pinion I2I maybe rotated, thereby to operate the 'as follows: The base plate II and all of the parts belt'34, 35. During any'transversemovements of supported-thereby, including the housing and the the bar land the shaft I with reference to bars .44 and HI, can be positioned in operative the housing, the pinion is r'naintained in engagerelation to the upper and lower frames of a winment with the belt pins 36 by meansuof. the key- 5 dow'by means of the composite brackets com- Way I20 and abutments I30 supported by the prisingthe parts 81-94 inclusive, the track complate I4. i prising the base-84 and side rails 85, the exter- -I3I denotes a base plate which is-conveniently nally located rollers I00, I02, I5I, I55 and t secured to-the underside of the bar II I. This -.ternally located rollers I31, I39, I44. The adbase plate supports thevertical member I32 of 20 instability of the rollers I5| and I55 alon the a composite bracket (see Figs. land-.3), the lower bar I I I enables them to cooperate with the "end of said member in turn supporting an angle rollers I31, I39, and I44 inproviding a non-tilting member I33, which is shown as supported in turn and easily reciprocable support for the apparatus and braced by inclined bracket members I34 conupon 'the portions of the window sills located 'nected to the plate I3I, to the bottom of the plate 25 .within window frames while the externally lo- I32 and to the angle member" I33 by bo-lts'I33 cated rollers also cooperate in ensuring adequate Secured to the vertical flange of the angle mem-- protection against the tilting of the base plate ber' I33 (as bywelding) are the bases of caster I I and all of the parts of the apparatus carried 1 frames I35 which support vertical pivot pins I36 thereby. for laterally'spaced rollers I31 which are adapted 3O Forthe purpose of adjusting the rollers I to to engage the inner side of thewindow sill structurebelowthe stool 86 with which the sill structure shown herein is provided. The rollers I00 and I31 will cooperate to prevent tilting of the baseplate and the housing and the parts within 5 the latter, but the additional rollers (to be described) contribute further to the prevention of tilting and to the ease of moving the apparatus along the sill structure on which it is supported.

Also carried by the plate I32 and by the horizontal flange of the angle member I33 are bearings for the vertical pivot pin I33 of a roller I39 which" is located above and substantially midway of the latter and providing, in cooperation with a plate'I4I supported by a bracket I42 carried by the bar I I I, bearings for the-horizontal pivot pins 'I43'for'a" pair of rollers I44 which are-adapted to engage the top of the stool (see Figs. 3 and 5).

I45 denotes a U-shaped bracket. which is mounted upon the bar III and the legs 146 of which project beyond the flanges of the said. arm

I (see Figs. 1,3, 5 and 12). beyond the said flanges, with aligned'openings I41 The legs are provided,-

through which a rod I48 extends. This rod is connected at its lower end to the back I49 of the caster frame which carries the'horizontal pivot outer face of the stool 86 and provided at 0pthe vertical pivot pins I54 of rollers I55 which" posite ends thereof with bearing plate I53 for.

are adapted to engage the outer vertical face "of the stool.

The positions of the'rolle'r's I 5I and I55 may be varied byjraising and lowering the rod I43, the rod being clamped in its various poshtions by means of a thumb screw I56 mounted'in a bearing I51 on the basejor web of the yoke and extending through said web and 'engagingat-its inner end the webof the arm I II, thereby serving by its inward adjustment to bring the walls 7 Qneotedat its base to a support I56 which is accommodate differences in the amount which the external parts of different window-sill struc- J tures project beyond the internal parts of the same,- I- have provided a shaft l58 having a hub I59 thereon adapted to engage a bearing sleeve I60 carried by a vertical flange of the angle bar 95 which supports the Wheels I00 (see Fig. 5). The outer end of the shaft is threaded into a sleeve I62 secured to the under side of the horizontal flange of one of the frame members I3. The shaft is provided with a hand wheel I63 and ahand'le I64 by means of which the screw can be adjusted whereby the Wheels Illl! can be moved inwardly or outwardly with respect to the 0 surfaces on the inner portion of the sill structure which ,are to be engaged by rollers supported from the bar ,I II thereby to accommodate variations in the distances between such surfaces and the position which the track must occupy with reference 50 .to the outer portion of the said sill structure.

By, adjusting the bar '44 by the pinion 53, the window cleaning implement can be placed in con- ;tact with the outer surface of the particular pane upon which it is to operate. However, if a finer adjustment is needed than can be obtained by this means, I have provided an additional adjusting means which comprises the shaft IIS, which has been referred to hereinbefore, and which is provided with a thread adapted to mesh with the thread of a half nut I65 which is pivotally consecured to the web portion of the channel member 54 as by a screw I61 (see Figs. 5 and 9) When the threads onthe shaft IE5 are in engagement with the threads on the half nut, a further flne adjustment of the squeegee or other cleaning implement toward the pane can be made by rotating :.the'shaft, such rotation imparting a minute 'movement toward the window of the base plate I I, the housing, and the parts supported thereby, -this action bein facilitated by the yieldable manner in which the rollers I00 are supported by the "rods 98 and, if also necessary, by slackingoff the screw I56 to permit the rollers I5I and I55-to be shifted to accommodate this slight motion.

A shaft I68, which extends through a vertical slot I69 inone of the sides of the housing and is provided outside the housing. with. a hand wheel H0, is threaded into a sleeve I'll carried by a plate I12 extending across and secured to the flanges oi the guide H2, to which plate the filler plate 46 is secured, as by welding. The inner end of the said shaft is connected with a lug 185* on the I swinging end of the half nut whereby, by turning the shaft in an appropriate direction, the half nut may be disengaged from the threads on the. shaft and the bar III can be slid freely through the transverse guide II2. This enables the rollers IM' to be positioned inthe track located exteriorly of the window and the bar to be moved so as to bring the; rollers carried thereby into. operative relation to. the surfaces of the inner portion of the sill structure with which. they cooperate.

Where a. belt is employed as. the means for raising and lowering the transverse guide 3'! and the bar M, it may be necessary or advisable to provide a belt tightener pressing against the portion of the belt not engaged by the pinion. Such a tightener is shown in Fig. 4 as comprising a roller I13 mounted in a yoke I'M which is pivotally connected to a plate Il the lower ends of the sides of which are mounted in supports H6, one of which is shown in Fig. i as extending upwardly from the transverse guide H2. The. yoke is provided with. an arm. II'I through which an. adjusting screw I18 extends, which screw is adapted. to abut against the plate I15 and the outer end of which is provided with a wing nut I m by the adjustment of which the roller may be. thrust with varying degrees of pressure against. the section 34 of, the belt.

In Figs. 15 and 16 there is shown a modification of the means for raising and lowering the guide 31 and the bar 44. This means comprises a channel shaped rigid rack I80 having the ends of its flanges inturned, as shown at I8l and having a rack bar I82 welded to said ends, the rack bar being provided in a portion of the length thereof with spaced rack teeth I83 similar to the pins 36 and adapted to be operated by the shaft I20 and pinion I2 I. The rack. bar is braced intermediately of the length thereof by a sleeve I84 supported by arms I85 extending upwardly from the transverse guide HZ, one of which is shown in Fig. 15 The upper portion of the rack bar is not provided with rack teeth, thereby enabling it to support the transverse guide 3'! and. the bar M by means of a channel guide I86 carried by a plate I 88 which is. secured. to the transverse guide 31,. there being a pin I81 extending through the said plate and the rack. bar, the said pin being similar to the pin P in the preceding modification and having a clamping sleeve and a hand wheel I88 threaded thereon, which clamping sleeve engages the lower portion of the plate I86 and from the lower portion of which plate brace arms, one of which is shown at I89, extend. upwardly and are connected at their upper ends to the transverse guide 31, in a manner similar to that in which the. arms P are connected to the said guide in the preceding modification of the invention.

InFig. 1.7 there shown a modification of the squeegee cleaning implement which comprises a thin strip of material. Hi I which can. be moistened, if desired, and. which can be inserted betweenthe bottom rail of the top frame and the overlapping portion of the top of the bottom frame thereby to gainv access to the-lower portions of the panes in. the upper frame, and which is mounted on a base f92- having a base support 78, similar to the.

support with which'the squeegee is provided.

In operation, the bar 44 having been elevated. to the desired extent to enable the cleaning implement to work upon the outer surfaces of the uppermost pane or panes in the upper window frame'is moved backandforth across the panes by the handle I I'Lbeing lowered, as occasion may require, until the entire outer surfaces of they panes are cleaned. Thereafter the bar maybe retracted, if necessary to enable the cleaning implement to clear'thewindow bar, and lowered to the top of the next lower pane or panes and moved inwardly to bring the implement into on gagement with the outer surfaces of said lower pane or panes, and. the operation repeated for thelatter paneor panes, and so on for all of the. panes in the upper and outer frame. The upper portion of the implement can operate betweenthe inner surfaces of the lower panes on the upper frame and the outer surfaces of the overlapping panes of the inner frame and the bar 44 will be' operated for the purpose of cleaning the' panes of the lower frame in the same manner as it is operated for cleaning the panes in the outer frame; For convenience of transportation along:

a floor, rollers I00 similar to the rollers M0,.

are-supported by the baseframe III at the opposite'side of the housing from the rollers IUD. For like reason the top of the'hou'sing is provided with a handle I93.

The apparatus shown and described has proved to bev particularly adaptable for variations in the installations of w'indowframes and their sills and to. enable the cleaning of windows to be efiect'ed' efliciently and expeditiously.

Having thus described my invention, what I' claim is:

r 1. In a window cleaning apparatus comprising a base frame, a vertically movable and horizontally reciprocable bar for supporting a cleaning implement and itself supported'from said frame and means for raising and lowering and reciproeating the said bar, a track and means for supporting the same'upon' a window sill structure ex ternally of and substantially parallel with a window which isto'be cleaned, the said window sill structure having a stool upon the top of the.

inner portion thereof and projecting inwardly outer rollers; and means" for effecting relative bodily movement between the inner and the outer rollers, the said frame being provided with means. whereby it can. be reciprocated longitudinally of the window sill structure.

2. In a window cleaning. apparatus. comprising a base 'frame, a vertically movable and horizontally reciprocable bar for supporting: a cleaningimplementand itself supported from said frame and means for raising and lowering and reciproeating the said. bar, a track and means for s'up-' porting the same upon a window sill structure externally of and substantially parallel with a.

window which istobe. cleaned, outer rollers supported from-said frame and arranged to traverse said track, cooperating inner rollers carried by 11 aportion of said frame and adapted to engage an inner vertical surface of the window sill structure for movement therealong longitudinally thereof, means for effecting relative bodily'movement between the outer rollers and the inner rollers, the

said frame being provided with means whereby it may be reciprocated lengthwise of the window sill structure, additional rollers adjustably supported by a portion of said frame and located externally of the window and opposed to the inner rollers and adapted to engage the exterior vertical surface of the inner portion of the window sill structure for movement therealong longitudinally thereof, the window sill structure compris-' ing a stool extending inwardly beyond the inner surface thereof which is engaged by the inner rollers, and a roller also supported by a portion of said frame and adapted to "engage the inner surface of the said stool for movement therealong longitudinally of the window sill structure, *the implement and itself supported from said frame and means for raising and lowering and reciprocating the said bar, a track-and means for supporting the same upon a window sill structure externally of and substantially parallel:with a window which is to be cleaned, outer rollers supported from said frame and arranged to traverse said track, a bar reciprocably supported from said frame, an assembly of rollers secured to said bar some of which rollers are adapted for engagement with and movement longitudinally of and along the top and along the inner surface of a stool comprising part of the window sill structure and others of which rollers are adapted for engagement with and movement longitudinally of the portion of the structure which is located below the inner surface of said stool, the said frame being provided with means whereby it can be reciprocated longitudinally of the window sill structure.

5. In the window cleaning apparatus set forth in claim 4, the means supporting the outer rollers from the said frame including a coil spring that is yieldable to outwardly exerted pressure on the outer rollers.

6. In the window cleaning apparatus set forth in claim 2, the means whereby the said frame can be reciprocated comprising a bar adapted to extend inwardly from the frame across the window sill structure, a supporting member mounted upon and adjustable along said bar, and the third mentioned rollers being suspended from and vertically adjustable with respect to said supporting member, and an additional roller also suspended from and vertically adjustable with respect to said supporting member and adapted to ride upon the top of the outer portion of the window sill structure and longitudinally thereof. i

'7. In the window cleaning apparatu set forth inclaim 2, a vertically adjustable roller carried by a portion of said frame and located exteriorly 0f and extending below the third mentioned rollers and adapted to ride upon the top of the outer portion of the window sill structure and longitudinally thereof, rollers located exteriorly of the first mentioned rollers and a horizontal plate supported from the outer portion of the window sill structure and extendin parallel with said structure and above the last mentioned rollers in position to be engaged by the latter throughout the reciprocatory movements of the frame.

8. A window cleaning apparatus comprising a base frame, a substantially horizontal plate located above and supported from said frame, a vertically extending rack member having its lower portion extending through said plate, means for supporting the portions of the said rack member above said plate against transverse displacement, a transversely extending guide member secured to a portion of said rack member, a cleaningimplement supporting bar slidably mounted on said transversely extending guide member and means for reciprocating the said bar thereon, means for locking said supporting bar in a given position, a shaft supported from the said frame and having a pinion thereon meshing with teeth on said rack member, and means for supporting the aforesaid parts from a window sill structure for longitudinal movement therealong.

9. A window cleaning apparatus comprising a base frame, a substantially horizontal plate located above and supported from the said frame, vertical guide members secured to and extending above said plate, a second and upper substantially horizontal plate to which the upper ends of the said vertical guide members are secured, a rack member extending through the said plates and between the guide members secured thereto, a transversely extending guide member secured to the rack member, a cleaning-implement supporting bar slidably mounted on the said transversely extending guide member and means for reciprocating the same thereon, a shaft supported by said frame and having a pinion thereon meshing with teeth on said rack member, and means for supporting the aforesaid parts from a window sill structure for longitudinal movement therealong, said last named means including rollers adapted to engage with the window sill and extended inwardly of the apparatus, means for controlling and gradually altering the extended position of said rollers with relation to said frame, and means for rendering said control means inoperative to make said rollers readily movable with regard to said frame.

10. In the cleaning apparatus set forth in claim 9, the means for supporting the first mentioned plate from the frame comprising a substantially horizontal base plate secured to the said frame below the first mentioned plate, and means carried by the base plate and engaging the first mentioned plate for varying the vertical distancebetween the said plates.

11. In the apparatus set forth in claim 9, the rack. member comprising an endless belt, one portion of which is provided with pins constituting rack teeth adapted to be engaged by the teeth of the pinion, a base plate carried by the frame beneath the said rack member, said lower horizontal plate being located above and supported from the base plate and means for vertically adjusting the same from the base plate, said guide members extending through and below and being secured to the lower horizontal plate, the two said horizontal plates having slots therethrough between said opposed guide members for the pas- Sage of the belt, vertical supporting plates secured to the said horizontal plates, rollers supported by and between the vertical supporting plates and around which the upper and lower looped ends of the belt pass.

12. A window cleaning apparatus comprising a base frame, a base plate supported by said frame and a housing supported by and extending upwardly from said frame and means for supporting the frame, base plate and housing from a windowsill structure for longitudinal movement therealong, a vertically extending rack member supported within said housing from said base plate, a transversely extending guide member secured to a portion of said rack member and having its ends mounted in vertical slots provided in the housing and a cleaning-implement supporting bar slidably mounted on the said guide and provided with a rack, a pinion shaft extending through a vertical slot provided in the housing, at one side of the first mentioned rack member, a pinion on said shaft meshing with the rack on said bar, and a pinion shaft supported by said frame and extending through vertical slots provided therefor in the wall of the housing and having a pinion keyed thereto meshing with the toothed operating portion of the said rack member, and means located interiorly of the window sill structure for operating the last mentioned shaft.

13. A window cleaning apparatus comprising a base frame, a substantially horizontal base plate supported by said frame, a substantially horizontal plate supported by and located above the base plate and having openings therethrough, guide members secured to the second plate on opposite side of each of the openings thereof and extending upwardly from said plate and having their lower portions projecting below said plate, a plate secured to the upper ends of the said guide members and having openings therethrough corresponding to and located vertically above the openings in the second mentioned plate and also located between therespective guide members, a rack comprising an endless belt the vertical stretches whereof extend through the openings in the said plates and between the guide members, and guiding means for the upper and lower 14 looped ends of the belt secured to and supp t d from the plates to which the upper and lower ends of the guide members are secured, a shaft,

supported by said frame and provided with a pinion meshing with rack teeth on said belt, a transversely extending guide member secured to a vertical stretch of said belt and a cleaning-implement supporting bar slidably mounted thereon, means for reciprocating said bar, means for supporting the guide carrying portion of the said belt during its movement by the rack teeth and. pinion, and mean for supporting the foregoing parts from a window sill structure for 10hgitudinal movement therealong.

' 14. In the apparatus set forth in claim 13, the transversely extending guide member being of channel formation and having the ends of its flanges directed toward and spaced from each other and the implement supporting bar comprising a channel member mounted within the said guide member and having a rack secured to one of the flanges thereof, a shaft supported by the said guide member and having a pinion meshing with the said rack, and means for locking said shaft in a given position.

15. In the apparatus set forth in claim 13, a housing supported by said base frame and enclosing the plates and the part supported thereby and provided with vertical slots for the accommodation of the transverse guide and the implement supporting bar and for the various operating shafts.

EDWIN L. FOUSE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 893,231 Fluegelman July 14, 1908 1,259,479 Bertolini Mar. 19, 1918 1,395,280 Kahn Nov. 1, 1921 1,416,280 Gazdzicki May 16, 1922 1,561,250 Kunze Nov. 10, 1925 1,661,236 Sebell Mar. 6, 1928 1,922,078 Curry Aug. 15, 1933 2,086,054 Swensen July 6, 1937 

